Summer Spa Retreats

With the summer making an official appearance, the heat is certainly on. And if you are wondering how you can relax this summer and stay haute here are some summer spa treatments that will augur well for you and your skin.

Orange facial at Aura, The Park Chennai

Rejuvenate the skin by encouraging the shedding of sun damaged skin and the orange facial is citrus rich, a natural source of vitamin C and helps destroy dead skin, while provides a radiant glow and rejuvenates and aids renewing damaged skin. Radha Shetty Spa Manager, Aura, The Park Chennai says, “in the summer season, all skin types are prone to a fair amount of wear and tear. It is vital to take care of your skin with preferably national ingredients that prevent adverse effects on the skin due to the heat during the season. Skin tan, redness on the skin, sun damage and skin inflammation are some of the common problems we all suffer from during the summer season. Fresh Oranges have a high content of citric acid which aids in skin exfoliation and helps to improve the overall look of your skin. Orange also contains Vitamin C which helps to remove sun burnt skin or tan and makes your skin feel supple, hydrated and radiant during the hot summer days.” The nine sanctuaries of Aura in jewel-tones inspired by Navaratna gems itself of course exude specific healing environments that make this treatment a relaxing one for the mind as well.

Charcoal Detox Treatment, The Iridium Spa, The St. Regis Mumbai

A charcoal scrub helps in detoxifying the skin and effectively removes grime, dirt, deal skin cells from the top layer of the skin. Summer is the season where humans perspire and the grime tends to form a grey dull layer on the skin. “Charcoal scrub helps in detoxifying the skin and effectively removes grime, dirt, deal skin cells from the top layer of the skin. Summer is the season where people perspire and the grime tends to form a grey dull layer on the skin. Charcoal helps in detoxifying the skin by pulling away the impurities and giving a beautiful glow to the body. Charcoal body wrap helps in deep cleansing of the body by the help of charcoal powder which thoroughly detoxifies the skin. The skin is deeply cleansed and brightened. It’s like a facial to the body and has anti-aging properties as well,” says Husnavaz Dastur, Director of Spa, Iridium Spa, The St. Regis Mumbai. Charcoal in fact is known to remove toxins that helps you to relax holistically.

Sunlight Soothing Wrap, The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai

The wrap is made up of natural organic ingredients like Aloe vera, Green tree extracts, Vetiver and lemon grass which are having cooling effect on skin. Designed to heal the harmful effects of exposure to sun, this organic wrap will soothe back the skin to the rested state. “This mineral dense treatment begins with a specially formulated wrap made from extracts of green tea and Aloevera, which help to cool and calm your body and repair skin damage. A gentle head massage during your cocooned state will give you a feel of real nirvana. A sandalwood and vetiver moisturizer will be applied at the end to replenish the moisture in the skin. The effect of UV rays in harsh summer is nullified by these organic ingredients. It also helps the skin cells to fight with harmful effects of summer heat like pigmentation and itching. It also helps to retain moisture in the skin which is generally lost in summer due to dry weather conditions,” says Dr.Nilesh A Deshmukh, Spa Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai. The ingredients used in this treatment facilitate mind and body relaxation and sandalwood especially is a well know relaxant.

Cucumber Body Wrap, Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa

This is a soothing and cooling body wrap recommended for oily and sensitive skin types and is very good for sunburnt and sensitive skin as well. Dr.Sunil Kumar, Spa Manager, Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa says, “calm and soothe your skin with a Carrot seed and Cucumber mask which is rich in vitamin A and C. Cucumber, nature’s most active vehicle for healing. Enriched with the calming qualities of Carrot seed, this wonderfully cooling body mask will leave skin glowing and the spirit revitalized. It is recommended for those with sunburn or very sensitive skin.” Post the treatment, a 30 minute relaxation is recommended and the guests are advised to drink water and replenish the fluids in the system as well as avoid exposure to hot sun. With the natural cooling properties of cucumber, the effect of this treatment is one that will also help calm your mind and rejuvenate your senses.

CHI The, Spa at Shangri-La Hotel, Bengaluru has specially designed a treatment to pamper the skin and protect it from the summer heat. It starts with a 30 minute creamy coconut milk body scrub, a 30 minute honey body wrap followed by a 60 minute Aromatherapy Relaxing Massage and concludes with a 60 minute facial. Creamy coconut scrub consists of desiccated coconut which exfoliates the skin smoothly while coconut milk enhances the healing process of the skin conditions. A hint of turmeric which is anti-bacterial, anti- fungal is also good for the skin. “Coconut oil, milk and honey are the best remedies and have been widely used as natural beauty treatments over centuries. Scrubs made with coconut oil, milk and honey are beneficial as it removes dead skin and gives it a radiant look. It also acts as a moisturizer and makes the skin soft. Honey and milk scrub gives an instant glow as it is rich in many anti-oxidants which protects the skin by limiting the production of free radicals, which can damage skin cells,” says Dr. Jazzy Nepram, Director of CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La Hotel, Bengaluru.” While this treatment gently nourishes the skin, it also helps elevate the feeling of tension and rejuvenates your body and mind. The treatment definitely results in a healthy glowing skin and gives an energizing effect on your holistic wellbeing too.

Takradhara, Lords Resort, Thrissur

A traditional Ayurvedic spa treatment, Takradhara is performed by pouring a thin stream of buttermilk infused with a mix of herbs on the body. In Sanskrit, Takra means buttermilk and dhara means a stream. The intense heat during summers cause dehydration and induce stress. The most common issues during summers are sleeplessness, tiredness, fatigue, and headaches among others. “Takradhara calms the mind by increasing the level of Acetylcholine (ACH) in the mind and body and acts as a mediator between nerve impulses. It removes the heat out of the system very effectively and reduces the speed of neurotransmitters which helps in deep relaxation for the body and mind. The treatment also improves blood circulation and soothes the hypothalamus which relaxes the nerves. This, in turn leads to reduction in mental stress,” says Rajesh VR, GM, Lords Resort.

Rice Flour Facial, Pachouli Wellness Clinic, Delhi

During summers, most of us develop oil on our skin and because of direct sun rays, tanning is one common factor that irritates everyone. Rice powder being coarse in its texture makes it an excellent scrub. Rice absorbs excess sebum and leaves your skin clean, smooth and re-energized. Preeti Seth, Cosmetologist, Pachouli Wellness Clinic, Delhi explains, “ the nutritional and mineral-rich rice has been known as one of the traditional skin lightening remedies. Amino acid and vitamins present in the grain act as a clearing agent and control the shine of the skin and when formed into a paste using banana and castor oil, it helps you to treat awful dark circles. It also treats blemishes, fine lines and pimples that lead to ageing. It also helps retain the elasticity and firmness of the skin to make you look fresh and young.” Rice contains sun-protecting agents like ferulic acid and allantoin, which acts as a good natural sunscreen. Being a good anti-inflammatory agent, rice powder also soothes sunburns and prevents the skin from sun tan. The starch present in rice provides luster and softness to body. It calms the body and mind as it helps to relax the muscles of your face.

Green Tea Scrub and Green Tea Wrap, The Westin Pune Koregaon Park

These treatments repair the skin damage done by the harsh sunlight and rejuvenate the skin. They also keep the body hydrated and help treat sunburns (if any). Anu Mohan, Spa Manager, Westin Pune Koregaon Park says, “The Green Tea Scrub is an anti-inflammatory scrub helps to reduce blemishes and scars. It also acts as an exfoliant to scrub off dead skin cells and pollutants, leaving your skin soft and smooth during this hot weather. The Green Tea Wrap is a body wrap with green tea combines slimming and anti-aging, a real makeover for your body. The skin is cleansed, nourished, moisturized, strengthened and removes impurities and leaves you feeling fresh this season.” The properties of green tea both cleanse and cool the body down which results in a re-energized state of mind. This treatment uses fine botanical ingredients and the spa environment ensures that you slip into a relaxed state of mind during the therapy.